Chapter 3: The Man on the Screen
Ethan stared at the monitor.
“No.””
The word escaped him before he even understood why.
Gloria moved closer.
Sophia didn't.
She couldn't.
The video showed the same living room.
The same sofa.
The same coffee table.
But the photograph above the fireplace had been different then.
A younger Gloria stood beside her husband.
And beside Sophia was a man Ethan had spent twelve years believing was dead.
Ethan's breath caught.
“That's…”
Gloria whispered his name.
“Marcus.””
Ethan turned toward her.
“My father.””
Sophia closed her eyes.
Ethan stepped closer to the screen.
“That's Dad.””
Gloria didn't answer.
“Mom, that's Dad.””
“I know.””
“You said he died.””
“I said he was gone.””
“You said he died.””
Gloria's eyes filled with tears.
“I thought it was safer.””
Ethan stared at her.
“Safer for who?””
Sophia finally spoke.
“For you.””
Ethan turned on her.
“Don't.””
Sophia flinched.
“Don't tell me you did this for me.””
“I did.””
“You lied to me.””
“I protected you.””
“You staged an attack on my mother.””
Sophia looked down.
“That wasn't supposed to happen.””
Gloria's voice was cold.
“What was supposed to happen?””
Sophia didn't answer.
Ethan pointed toward the screen.
“What is my father doing here?””
The footage continued.
Marcus stood beside the coffee table.
He looked older than Ethan remembered from photographs, but unmistakably alive.
He was holding a folder.
Sophia stood across from him.
Their conversation was muffled at first.
Then the audio became clear.
Marcus said, “You promised he wouldn't find out.””
Sophia replied, “He won't.””
Ethan's eyes widened.
Gloria pressed a hand against her chest.
The recording continued.
Marcus placed the folder on the table.
“Once Ethan signs, it's finished.””
Sophia shook her head.
“He won't sign it.””
“Then make him believe he already did.””
The video froze.
Ethan stared.
Sophia's face had lost all color.
“That's not what it sounds like.””
Ethan laughed once.
A broken sound.
“You just said my father was alive.””
Sophia looked at Gloria.
“I didn't know what else to do.””
Gloria stepped toward her.
“You knew.””
Sophia shook her head.
“I knew he was alive. I didn't know where he was.””
Ethan looked back at the monitor.
“Then how did you get this recording?””
Sophia stayed silent.
“Answer me.””
“I found it.””
“Where?””
Sophia's breathing became shallow.
“I found it years ago.””
Gloria's eyes narrowed.
“Years ago?””
Sophia nodded.
Ethan looked at his mother.
“You knew Dad was alive too.””
Gloria wiped beneath one eye.
“I found out later.””
“When?””
“I can't tell you.””
“You can't?””
“I won't.””
Ethan stepped back.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
The wall clock ticked.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then Ethan looked at the document still displayed on the monitor.
“My signature was forged.””
“Yes,” Gloria said.
“And Dad was involved.””
“Yes.””
“And Sophia knew.””
Gloria nodded.
Ethan's eyes moved slowly toward his wife.
“Who else knew?””
Sophia's lips trembled.
“No one.””
A phone began vibrating on the coffee table.
Everyone looked down.
Sophia's phone.
The screen lit up.
UNKNOWN CALLER.
She didn't move.
Ethan stared at it.
“Answer it.””
Sophia shook her head.
“Ethan…”
“Answer it.””
The phone kept vibrating.
Gloria looked at the screen.
Then at Sophia.
“Who is calling you?””
Sophia whispered, “I don't know.””
The phone stopped.
Silence.
Then a message appeared.
Ethan picked it up before Sophia could.
He read the first line.
His face changed.
Gloria watched him.
“What does it say?””
Ethan slowly raised his eyes toward Sophia.
“It says…”
He stopped.
Sophia took one step backward.
“What?””
Ethan turned the phone toward her.
The message contained only six words.
*Tell Gloria I’m coming for my money.*
May you like
Ethan looked at his wife.
“Who is Marcus?””
